Guard-rail brace



1921 3 Sheets-Shoot 2 H. G. WARR GUARD RAIL BRAQE Filed Aug. 25

March 25 1.924.V

Infenw Mrch 25 1924.v

1,488,393 H. G. wARR GUARD RAIL BRACE Filed Aug. 25 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fatented Mar. 25, 1924.

HAROLD Gr. VVITAE-It, OF PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE P & M COMPANY, `0E" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GUARD-RAIL BB1-LCE.

Appliation led August 25, 1921. Serial No. 495,385.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HAROLD G. "Wann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park Ridge, in the county of' Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Guard-Rail Brace, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to guard rail braces, and has for its primary object to provide a brace device which will function as a tie plate for an acent `running rail, and which will maintain a rigid connection with the guard rail.

Prior to my invention, it has been customary to secure a guard rail to an adjacent running rail by means of sectional fastening devices, but such sectional devices are not entirely. satisfactory for the reason that the stresses produced by the waving and vibratory movements of the adjacent running rail have a tendency to loosen the connections between the rails and the various parts of such devices, and thereby impair their eiliciency as a guard rail brace. l/Vith my invention, I aim to overcome the above and other incidental objections by providing a one-piece brace which is cast through openings in the guard rail so as to be, in eifect, integral with said guard rail, which device, when in its applied position, will extend lunder the base of the adjacent running rail so as to function as a tie plate, but which will have no rigid attachment with said ruiming rail.

Another object is to provide a guard rail brace having a base portionadapted to function as a tie plate for an adjacent running rail, the said base portion'beingformed angular in cross-section, whereby it may be made. relatively light in weightwithout sacrificing the strength and rigidity required in such devices to prevent the heavy pressures on the running rail from distorting said base portion of the brace.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and devices, hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects, and such otherobjects as will appear from the following description of the invention, asv illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a running and `is formed will flow through openings 14, 15

guard rail showing the guard rail supported in its loperative position by means of' bracing members constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken through the structure of Fig. 1, the section being t-aken on line 2 2 of 4ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of a guard rail brace;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a Sectional View of another modiied construction; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings..

Referring first to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings: 10 designates one of the runnin rails of a railway track, 11 a guard rail, and 12 certain of the cross ties on which the running and guard rails are supported. The guard rail is supported in'its desired operative position adjacent the ruiming rail 10 `and firmly anchored to certain of the cross ties 12 by means of a plurality of braces, designated generally by the reference character 13. These bracing devices are preferably made of cast metal, and are rigidly 'secured to the web and base flanges of' the :guard rail during the casting operation by arranging the guard rail in the mold, so

that the molten metal from which the brace 5 formed in the web and base iiange, respectively, of the guard rail. The mold is also preferably formed so that the molten metal will flow around opposite edges of the base flange 16. The casting is formed with an abutment 17 which lit-s the space between 'the under surface of the ball and the upper surface of the base flange of the guard rail, `and is preferablv formed channel-shaped lin cross-section, so as to provide a brace of maximum strength with a minimum amount of metal. The base portion 18 of the casting preferably extends under the adjacent running rail 10, as indicated at 19, so as to provide a suitable tie plate for the base of the running rail. The casting may be attached to the tie by any suitable means, for

example, by spikes 20, extending through openings 2l in the base portion. The running rail l is secured to the cross ties l2 by the usual rail spikes 22 which extend through an elongated opening 23 in the base at one side of the rail, and through one of the spike openings 24 at the opposite side of the rail.

With the above construction it will be seen that the running rail may move vertically or longitudinally with relation to the guard rail 1l, without danger of misplacing the guard rail or subjecting the guard rail brace 13 to such strains as would tend to loosen or otherwise impair its firm connection with the guard rail. It will also be noted that by providing the base of the guard rail brace with a portion which intervenes between the running rail and the tie, the weight of the train passing over the running rail increases the holding power of the guard rail brace as against lateral thrusts on the guard rail.

In Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, I have shown a modified form of guard rail brace, consisting of a channel shaped base portion 25 which fits over one of the cross ties 12?*and a cast metal abutment 26 which is cast rigidly to the guard rail lla and base member 25 by arranging said rail and base member in the mold so that the molten metal, from which the abutment 26 is formed, will flow through openings 14a, l5, in the web and base flange, respectively, of the guard rail, and through openings 27 in the channel shaped base member 25. The channel shaped base 25 is preferably a rolled steel channel bar of ordinary form, which may be purchased in the open market and cut into the desired lengths.

The web of the channel bar is split to form a tongue 28 which is bent over the base flange 29 of the guard rail to further rigidify the attachment of the brace to the guard rail. The channel bar 25 extends under the adjacent running rail and functions as a tie plate to prevent the base of the running rail from wearing away the upper surface of the cross tie. The channel shaped member may be secured to the cross tie l2;l by spikes 30, and the running rail may also be secured to the cross tie with capacity for movement with relation to the guard rail by means of spikes 3l, 32, extending through elongated slots 33 formed in the web of the channel bar. When using a channel bar as a base member, instead of a Hat slab, such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a bar having a relatively thin web may be expeditiously used to minimize the expense and diliculties incident to forming the tongue 2S and spike openings in the web of the channel. Vith a channeled construction, the vertically disposed flanges 34, 34, reinforce the base, so as to provide the necessary rigidity to the portions functioning asa tie plate for the a running rail, to withstand the heavy preseures and strains due to the passing of tratlic. Y

The cross ties ad1|acent a railway frog are usually long enough to extend under the main and side tracks, and are ordinarily arranged so as to extend at right angles only to the main track. Under such conditions as this, guard rail braces for the side tracks, if made with a flat base, as shown in Figs. l and 2, may be positioned diagonally across the upper face of the tie. If the brace is of the form shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, the abutment 26 may be cast on the channelshaped base at the desired angle to permit the channel of the base to fit over a crosstie. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have provided a rail brace construction which may be advantageously used at crossings, or switches having different angles with relation to the main track, and where the angular arrangement of the ties with relation tothe switch rails varies. preferably consistsof a cast metalab-utment 26 which is secured `to the guard rail in Ysubstantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 3. The base portion, instead of being formed of a rolled channel bar, as shown in Figs. 3, at and-5, consists of a metal slab 35, which, like the channel shaped base of Fig. 8, is secured rigidly to the abutment 26 by permittimg` the metal during the casting of the abutment to flow through open ings 27a formed in the .base slab. In order to resist thetendency of the stresses and strains on the running railfrom distorting the base portions 35, I preferably reinforce the base of the brace by the use of a rolled metal channel barv36, which may be fitted over one of the cross ties l2:L and positioned between the upper face of the cross tie and the guard rail brace.

The channel bar may be spiked to the tie, as indicated at 37, 38,'and provided with relatively large spike openings 39 and slots 40, whereby the guard rail brace may be arranged in any desired angular position, and said brace and running rails 'securely fastened tothe cross tie by means of spikes 4l 42.

lWhile I have described my invention in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious that further modilications in structure might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact structures shown and described, except in so far as specific limitations may appear in the appendedV claims.

I claim: Y

l. A guard rail brace comprising a casting formed with a base portion adapted to be secured to a cross tie andrprovided with an integral abutment which. is rigidly connected vwith the guard rail during the casting operation.

This form of the inventionY lll) 2. The combination with a guard vrail adaptedto be supportedadjacent a running rail, of a brace and anchoring device cast rigid on said guard rail comprising a base vthe running rail and provide a tie plate therefor.

3. The combination with a guard rail formed with openings in its vertical web and base flange, of means `for anchoring the guard rail to a cross tie' in a position adjacent a running rail with capacity for relative movement of said ruiming rail, comprising a brace device cast rigid on the guard rail, and means for attachingl the same to a cross tie; said device being formed with an abutment cast through said openings and formed with an integral base embracing opposite edges of the guard rail base and providing a tie plate bearing for the adjacent running rail.

4C. The combination with a guard rail formed with an opening in its vertical web, of means for anchoring the guard rail to a cross tie in a position adjacent a running rail with capacity for relative movement or' the running rail, comprising a brace device cast rigid on the guard rail, and means for attaching the same to a cross tie; said device being formed with a channel-shaped abutment cast through said opening and conforming to the contour of the space between the under surface of the ball and the upper surface of the base flange of the guard rail, and formed with an integral base embracing opposite edges of said guard rail; the base portion of said casting being formed with an extension to provide a tie plate for the adjacent running rail.

5. The combination with a guard rail, of means for supporting said guard rail in a position adjacent a'running rail with capacity for relative movement of the running rail, comprising a brace member consisting of an abutment for one side of said guard railand a base portion cast rigid to said guard rail.

6. The combination with a guard rail, of means for supporting the guard rail in a position adjacent a running rail with capacity for relative movement or" the running rail, comprising a brace member consisting ,of an abutment for one side of the guard rail and a base portion cast rigid to said guard rail; said base portion being angular in cross section and adapted to fit over a cross tie.

7. The combination with a guard rail, of means for supporting the guard rail in a position adjacent a running rail, comprising a brace member consisting of an abutment lor one side of the guard rail and a base portion cast rigid to said guard rail; said base portion being channel-shaped in cross section and adapted to fit over a cross tie.

8. The combination with a guard rail, or means for supporting the guard rail in a position adjacent a running rail, comprising a brace member consisting of an abutment vfor one side of the guard rail and a base portion cast rigid to said guard rail; said base portion being made of a rolled metal bar, channel-shaped in cross section, adapted to tit over a cross tie and to extend under the base of said running rail.

9. The combination with a guard rail, of means for supporting said guard rail in a position adjacent a running rail, comprising a cast metal abutment for one side of the guard rail, a base portion formed with a lip engaging the opposite side of the guard rail; said abutment and base portion being rigidly connected with each other and with the guard rail during the casting operation.

10. The combination with a guard rail, of a brace member for supporting said guard rail in a position adjacent a running rail, comprising a cast metal abutment for one side of the guard rail, a flat base portion formed with a lip engaging the opposite side of said guard rail, and a rolled metal channel bar adapted to fit over a cross tie and be interposed between said tie and said brace member; said abutment and base portion or said brace member being rigidly convnected with each other and with the guard rail during the casting operation of said abutment.

l1. A guard rail brace comprising an abutment cast to the rail, and a base portion rigid with said abutment formed to extend under the base of the rail and adapted to be secured to a cross tie.

12. A rail brace comprising two separately formed members irremovably attached together, one of, said members providing an abutment for one side of the rail and the other of said members providing a base portion for the brace, said base portion being provided with rigidifying ribs adapted to project over opposite vertical faces of a cross tie.

13. A rail brace comprising two separately formed members irremovably attached together, one of said members providing an abutment for one side of the rail and the other of said members being a channelshaped base portion and adapted to be positioned to iit over a cross tie.

la. A rail brace comprising two separately formed members irremovably attached together, one of said members being a rolled metal channel-shaped base portion and the other of said members being an abutment for one side of the rail; the said channel shaped base portion being adapted to fit over a cross tie.

, 15. The combination with a railroad rail, of means attachedrto a cross tie for resisting lateral and turning movements of said rail comprising a brace member cast rigid to said rail.

16. The combination with a railroad rail, of means attached to a cross tie for resisting lateral and turning movements of said rail, comprising a brace member irremovably attached to said rail by means formed integ-rally with the brace.

' 17. The combination with a railroad rail, of means attached to a cross tie for resisting lateral and turning movements of said rail,

comprising a member cast rigid to said rail. Y

18. The combinationwitli a railroad rail, of `means attached to a cross tie for resisting lateral and turning movements of said rail comprising a cast metal member rigidly connected VWith said rail during the casting operation.

19. The combination with a railroad rail, of means attached to a cross tie for resisting lateral and turning movements of said rail comprising a rail engaging member, and cast metal attaching means applied in its molten state to attach said member to said rail.

' HAROLD G. WARR. 

